New Jersey Flu Activity This Week
Last updated:
Track current flu activity in New Jersey with weekly CDC surveillance data. This page shows New Jersey influenza levels, historical trends, and how New Jersey compares to nearby states and the national average. Data is sourced from the CDC's ILINet network and updated every Friday.
Key Takeaways
- 1 Flu activity in New Jersey is currently HIGH, with 4.6% of outpatient visits for flu-like illness.
- 2 Activity has been relatively stable over recent weeks.
- 3 New Jersey flu activity is above the national average of 2.9%.
CDC Recommendations at This Level
Flu activity is elevated — take extra precautions
- • Avoid crowded indoor spaces when possible, or wear a mask
- • If you get sick, call your doctor within 48 hours — antiviral treatment (Tamiflu) works best when started early
- • Keep sick family members separated from vulnerable household members (elderly, young children, pregnant, immunocompromised)
- • Clean frequently touched surfaces daily (doorknobs, phones, light switches)
- • Make sure your flu vaccine is current — it's still the best protection
This is general public health guidance based on CDC recommendations — not personal medical advice. Talk to your healthcare provider about what's right for you and your family.
New Jersey Flu Trend — 2025-2026 Season
ILI = influenza-like illness. Percentage of outpatient visits for ILI symptoms.
Is Flu Getting Better or Worse in New Jersey?
Flu appears to be declining in New Jersey
Flu activity is most likely decreasing, though there's some uncertainty. The overall trend points toward improvement in the coming weeks.
Technical details (CDC Rt estimate)
Reproduction number (Rt): 0.96 (95% CI: 0.81 – 1.08)
Probability of growth: 21%
Rt below 1.0 means each case leads to fewer new cases (declining). Above 1.0 means growing.
Based on CDC forecasting data as of March 31, 2026. Source
New Jersey vs. National Average and Nearby States
Nearby States
| State | Activity Level | ILI % |
|---|---|---|
| Low | 0.0% | |
| Low | 1.9% | |
| Low | 0.9% |
Sources & Methods
ILI (influenza-like illness) is defined as fever plus cough or sore throat. Data reflects the percentage of outpatient visits for ILI reported through the CDC's ILINet surveillance network. Activity levels are computed from ILI percentage thresholds. Learn more about our methods .
More Health Data for New Jersey
Cities in New Jersey
Flu data available for these New Jersey cities:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the flu going around in New Jersey right now?
Based on the latest CDC data, flu activity in New Jersey is currently high. 4.6% of outpatient visits are for flu-like illness. This data is updated weekly from the CDC's ILINet surveillance network.
What are current flu levels in New Jersey?
New Jersey's current influenza-like illness (ILI) rate is 4.6%, classified as high activity. ILI measures the percentage of outpatient visits where patients present with fever plus cough or sore throat — the standard CDC metric for flu surveillance across all 50 states.
How does New Jersey flu activity compare to the national average?
New Jersey's flu activity is 1.7 percentage points above the national average. The nearby states table shows how New Jersey ranks regionally.
What does the flu activity level mean for New Jersey?
The activity level indicates how much flu-like illness is being reported in New Jersey compared to typical levels. "High" means more people are visiting doctors with flu symptoms than usual. It does not indicate the severity of the flu viruses circulating.
Where does this flu data come from?
This data comes from the CDC's ILINet (Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network), accessed via the Delphi Epidata API. ILINet includes reports from thousands of healthcare providers across the United States who track the percentage of patient visits for flu-like symptoms each week.
How often is this page updated?
This page is updated weekly, typically on Fridays after the CDC publishes new FluView data. The data usually reflects activity from the previous week, so there is a one-to-two week delay between when illness occurs and when it appears here.
Is flu getting better or worse in New Jersey?
Based on the CDC's reproduction number (Rt) estimate, flu in New Jersey is likely declining with an Rt of 0.96. This means each flu case is generating fewer than one new case on average, so activity should continue to decrease. There is a 21% probability that flu is growing.
Local Health Signal is not affiliated with the CDC or any government agency. Data is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended for clinical decision making. See our methods page for details on data sources and limitations.